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[1/8] U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris disembarks an aircraft as she arrives to attend the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28) in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, December 2, 2023. The White House said Harris will carry a message about post-conflict Gaza as the region grapples with the fallout from a war that has upended the Middle East. Hamas seized control of Gaza in 2007 from Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' mainstream Fatah party and has ruled the enclave ever since. How post-conflict Gaza should realistically be managed is an issue that has confounded regional leaders and Middle East experts. "In her meetings, the vice president will outline our principles for post-conflict Gaza, lay out specific proposals that put Palestinian voices at the center, and build regional support for our efforts," the White House official said.

Persons: Kamala Harris disembarks, Amr Alfiky, Kamala Harris, Harris, Joe Biden, Mahmoud Abbas, Biden, Critics, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, we’ve, John Kirby, Nandita Bose, Steve Holland, Matt Spetalnick, Heather Timmons, Alistair Bell Organizations: U.S, United Nations, Change, United Arab Emirates, REUTERS, Rights, West Bank, White, Palestinian, Fatah, Middle, Authority, United, White House, House, Munich, Conference, Thomson Locations: Dubai, United Arab, Israel, Gaza, United Arab Emirates, Washington, Russia, Ukraine

Israel has sworn to annihilate Hamas following its Oct. 7 rampage in southern Israel in which it says 1,200 people were killed and more than 200 taken hostage. "Frankly, the scale of civilian suffering, and the images and videos coming from Gaza, are devastating," Harris told reporters. The United States has been increasingly vocal that Israel must narrow the combat zone during any offensive in southern Gaza and ensure safe zones for non-combatants. Gaza health officials said that in addition to the death toll, 650 people had been wounded since the truce collapsed. Gaza health officials said three Palestinians were killed in an Israeli air strike on a house in Rafah.

Persons: Kamala Harris, Lloyd Austin, Israel, Harris, Austin, Benjamin Netanyahu, Netanyahu, Wessam Farhat, Amir Cohen, Mark Regev, Robert Mardini, Emmanuel Macron, Saleh Al, Arouri, Yoav Gallant, Khan Younis, Suhaib, Nidal, Mohammed Salem, Ari Rabinovich, Emily Rose, Andrew Mills, Nandita Bose, Steve Holland, Phil Stewart, Matt Spetalnick, Nick Zieminski, Matt Lewis, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: Hamas, U.S . Defense, Simi Valley , California ., U.S, REUTERS, International Committee, Reuters, Crescent, Palestinian, Al, Israeli, Palestinian News Agency, Tel, Thomson Locations: GAZA, CAIRO, Israel, Gaza, Washington, Egypt, Dubai, Simi Valley , California, Simi Valley , California . Austin, U.S, Tel Aviv, United States, Palestinian, Rafah, Qatar, Al Jazeera, Suhaib Salem, Cairo, Jerusalem, Doha

WASHINGTON, Dec 1 (Reuters) - The White House said on Friday it was prepared to "pause" sanctions relief for OPEC member Venezuela in coming days unless there is further progress on the release of Venezuelan political prisoners and "wrongfully detained" Americans. Any “snapback” of partially lifted U.S. sanctions would mark a major shift from President Joe Biden's new approach toward Venezuela. In the most significant lifting of tough Trump-era sanctions, Washington issued a six-month general license authorizing U.S. transactions with Venezuela’s vital oil and gas sector and a second license authorizing operations of state gold mining company Minerven. Washington had vowed to reverse that sanctions relief unless the Venezuela's Socialist government took steps by the end of November to release political prisoners and three Americans it considers unlawfully jailed, and also lift public-office bans on opposition candidates. The Venezuelan government released five political prisoners in October but there have been no releases since.

Persons: Nicolas Maduro, John Kirby, Joe Biden's, Washington, “, ” Kirby, ”, we're, Kirby, Maria Corina Machado, Matt Spetalnick, Steve Holland, Mayela Armas, Daniel Wallis Organizations: Venezuelan, White House, Trump, Socialist, Thomson Locations: Venezuela, Venezuelan, Maduro, Washington, U.S, Israel, Gaza, Ukraine, Caracas

☆ Protester self-immolates outside Israeli consulate in Atlanta
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Smoke rises after an Israeli airstrike in Gaza, after a temporary truce between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas expired, as seen from southern Israel, December 2, 2023. REUTERS/Alexander Ermochenko Acquire Licensing RightsDec 1 (Reuters) - A protester with a Palestinian flag self-immolated on Friday outside the Israeli consulate in Atlanta, authorities said. The protester arrived around 12:17 p.m. at the office building, which houses the consulate as well as several businesses, and used gasoline, police said. Israel has vowed to annihilate Hamas after the militant group attacked southern Israel on Oct. 7, killing 1,200 people and taking 240 hostages, according to Israeli tallies. More than 15,000 Gazans have been killed during Israel's assault, Palestinian officials say, which has destroyed much of the enclave.

Persons: Alexander Ermochenko, Darin Schierbaum, Anat Sultan, Israel, Joseph Ax, Kanishka Singh, Jonathan Allen, Matt Spetalnick, Daniel Wallis, Bill Berkrot Organizations: REUTERS, Palestinian, Police, ABC News, Thomson Locations: Gaza, Israel, Palestinian, Atlanta, U.S

Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro speaks during a meeting with Colombia's President Gustavo Petro at the Miraflores Palace in Caracas, Venezuela, November 18, 2023. "The Political Administrative Court of the Supreme Justice Tribunal will rule on the admission of the suit and the protection requested," the statement said. Those taking their cases to the tribunal must abstain from disrespect toward the state and respect the country's constitution, the statement added. Reuters reported this week that the government could allow appeals to advance as a way to partially comply with U.S. demands. The State Department did not immediately reply to a request for comment after the statement was published.

Persons: Nicolas Maduro, Gustavo Petro, Leonardo Fernandez Viloria, Jorge Rodriguez, Gerardo Blyde, Maria Corina Machado, Maduro, Biden, Matt Spetalnick, Vivian Sequera, Mayela, Lincoln, Stephen Coates Organizations: REUTERS, United, Reuters, State Department, The State Department, Mayela Armas, Thomson Locations: Miraflores, Caracas, Venezuela, WASHINGTON, CARACAS, United States, Norway, U.S, Venezuelan

☆ US Threatening to Reimpose Venezuelan Sanctions if Commitments Not Kept
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-30 | by ( Nov. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +3 min

The Biden administration reiterated that it has told the Venezuelan government it must, by the end of November, lay out steps for lifting election bans on opposition candidates and begin releasing Venezuelan political prisoners and "wrongfully detained" Americans, the spokesperson said. If the U.S. deems Maduro's actions insufficient, it was not immediately clear how extensively or quickly it would roll back sanctions relief. "We haven’t seen any progress yet," White House national security spokesperson John Kirby told reporters earlier on Thursday when asked whether Maduro was meeting his commitments and if the U.S. was prepared to reimpose sanctions. The Venezuelan government may allow appeals from banned politicians to progress in court as a way to partially comply with U.S. demands, sources told Reuters this week. The Venezuelan government released five political prisoners in October but there have been no releases since.

Persons: Matt Spetalnick WASHINGTON, Nicolas Maduro, Joe Biden's, Biden, Antony Blinken, Maduro, November's, Jorge Rodriguez, John Kirby, Maria Corina Machado, Matt Spetalnick, Vivian Sequera, Chris Reese, Josie Kao Organizations: State Department, Venezuelan, The State Department, U.S, House Locations: U.S, Venezuela, Venezuelan, Washington, Caracas

An Israeli military spokesman indicated on Friday that the military operation against Hamas would advance into southern Gaza but gave no indication of timing. "They asked us, the citizens of Gaza, to go to the south. With Palestinians now effectively cornered, the second stage in Israel's military campaign is fraught with even more risks than the first. Assessing Israel's gains till now, Eiland said he believed the IDF had dealt with "something like 50%" of Hamas' military capacity. "I'm not sure that all foreigners understand the Israeli mood: Israel will not stop the operation before the hostages are back," said Eiland.

Persons: Khan Younis, Abu Mustafa, Gazans, Israel, Abu, Giora, Daniel Hagari, Hagari, Matthew Miller, Benjamin Netanyahu, Yahya Sinwar, Ahmed, Eiland, Osama Hamdan, Al Mawasi, I'm, Jonathan Saul, Nidal, Simon Lewis, Humeyra Pamuk, Matt Spetalnick, Edmund Blair, Daniel Flynn Organizations: Hamas, REUTERS, Gazans, Israel Washington, Israel's National Security Council, Reuters, U.S, U.S . State Department, United Nations, IRNA, Thomson Locations: Israel, Palestinian, Gaza, GAZA, Israeli, Gaza City, United States, Washington, U.S, Beirut, U.N, Egypt, Rafah, Eiland, London

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said at the weekend that the PA in its current form should not take charge of Gaza. In the wake of Netanyahu's comments, Israeli officials have insisted that Israel does not intend to occupy the Gaza Strip. Dahlan has the backing of the influential United Arab Emirates to lead a post-war administration in Gaza, according to diplomats and Arab officials. So far, the U.S. and its allies have not seen any clear roadmap from Israel for its exit strategy from Gaza beyond the declared aim of eradicating Hamas, diplomats say. Not since the U.S. invasion of Iraq in 2003 has there been such widespread concern about military action raging across the Middle East, according to Arab officials and diplomats.

Persons: Israel tightens, Gaza's, Mahmoud Abbas, Fatah, Benjamin Netanyahu, Mohammed Dahlan, Israel, Dahlan, Joe Biden, Netanyahu, Gaza –, –, Abu Mohammad, We're, Biden, Jonathan Panikoff, government's, Biden's, Antony Blinken, Blinken, Abbas –, Abbas, Mohammad Shtayyeh, Abu Dhabi, Marwan Barghouti, Washington, Joost R, John Kirby, Nidal al, Humeyra Pamuk, Matt Spetalnick, Andrew Mills, James Mackenzie, Crispian Balmer, John Irish, Aidan Lewis, Alexander Cornwell, Samia Nakhoul, Daniel Flynn Organizations: Palestinian, Hamas, Israel Defense Forces, REUTERS, Authority, Palestinian Authority, West Bank, United, Israel, U.S, policymaking, Reuters, Atlantic Council, Gaza, Western, Israel ., UAE, North Africa, Crisis, House, Thomson Locations: Gaza, Israel, Gaza Israel, Iraq, Afghanistan, Palestinian, U.S, United States, Washington, Hamas, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, America, Egypt, Jordan, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Tokyo, Oslo, European, technocrats, United Nations, Middle East, Iran, GAZA, Doha, Jerusalem, Paris, Cairo, Dubai

That was down from 41% who said the U.S. should back Israel in a Reuters/Ipsos poll conducted Oct. 12-13. Some 68% of respondents in the Reuters/Ipsos poll said they agreed with a statement that "Israel should call a ceasefire and try to negotiate." In a potentially worrisome sign for Israel, just 31% of poll respondents said they supported sending Israel weapons, while 43% opposed the idea. Support for sending Israel weapons was strongest among Republicans, while roughly half of Democrats were opposed. The Reuters/Ipsos poll was conducted online and nationwide, gathering responses from 1,006 U.S. adults.

Persons: shouldn't, Joe Biden, Israel, Biden, Jason Lange, Matt Spetalnick, Scott Malone, Howard Goller Organizations: Reuters, Republicans, Democratic, Congress, Ukraine, Republican, Thomson Locations: Gaza, Israel, U.S, United States, Lebanon, Iran, Ukraine, Kyiv

[1/2] Smoke rises over Gaza as seen from Southern Israel, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestinian group Hamas, November 10, 2023. French President Emmanuel Macron, in a BBC interview published late on Friday, said Israel must stop bombing Gaza and killing civilians. "Israel is now launching a war on Gaza City hospitals," said Mohammad Abu Selmeyah, director of Al Shifa hospital. On Oct. 12, Israel ordered some 1.1 million people in Gaza to move south ahead of its ground invasion. Palestinian officials said on Friday that 11,078 Gaza residents had been killed in air and artillery strikes since Oct. 7.

Persons: Evelyn Hockstein, Antony Blinken, Blinken, Israel, Emmanuel Macron, Benjamin Netanyahu, Netanyahu, Mohammad Abu Selmeyah, Al, Al Shifa, Nasser, Eylon Levy, Ashraf Al, Qidra, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Israel's U.N, Gilad Erdan, Richard Hecht, we'll, Nidal al, Emily Rose, Maayan Lubell, Henriette Chacar, Matt Spetalnick, Grant McCool Organizations: Hamas, REUTERS, Global, White, Israeli, Indonesian Hospital, Palestinian, Reuters, Health, United Nations Security Council, Israel's, Cross, Thomson Locations: Gaza, Southern Israel, Israel, Palestinian, Saudi Arabia, GAZA, United States, U.S, India, France, Paris , New York, Riyadh, Saudi, Gaza City, Al Shifa, Al, Shifa, Quds, Jerusalem

"The Israeli occupation launched simultaneous strikes on a number of hospitals during the past hours," Gaza Ministry of Health spokesman Ashraf Al-Qidra told Al Jazeera television. Qidra said Israel targeted the courtyard of Al Shifa, the biggest hospital in Gaza City, and there were casualties, but he did not provide details. Israel said Hamas has hidden command centres and tunnels beneath Al Shifa, allegations Hamas denies. "Indonesia once again condemns the savage attacks on civilians and civilian objects, especially humanitarian facilities in Gaza," the ministry said in a statement. Palestinian officials said 10,812 Gaza residents had been killed as of Thursday, about 40% of them children, in air and artillery strikes.

Persons: Raneen, Ashraf Al, Qidra, Israel, Al Shifa, Nasr, ISRAEL, Joe Biden, John Kirby, Benjamin Netanyahu, Netanyahu, Nidal al, Angel, Emily Rose, Maayan, Rami Amichay, Matt Spetalnick, Humeyra Pamuk, Cynthia Osterman, Grant McCool, Simon Cameron, Moore Organizations: West Bank, REUTERS, Indonesian, Hamas, Gaza Ministry, Health, Al, Reuters, Rights Watch, Rantisi Pediatric Hospital, Indonesian Hospital, White House, Fox News, Thomson Locations: Jenin, Gaza, Indonesia, GAZA, WASHINGTON, Israel, Israeli, Al Jazeera, Al, Gaza City, Egypt, Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Washington

[1/5] Smoke rises over Gaza as seen from southern Israel, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestinian group Hamas, November 10, 2023. "The Israeli occupation launched simultaneous strikes on a number of hospitals during the past hours," Gaza Ministry of Health spokesman Ashraf Al-Qidra told Al Jazeera television. Israel said Hamas has hidden command centres and tunnels beneath Al Shifa, and other hospitals such as the Indonesian Hospital, allegations Hamas denies. Palestinian officials said 10,812 Gaza residents had been killed as of Thursday, about 40% of them children, in air and artillery strikes. The Israeli military has allowed some wounded Palestinian civilians to cross into Egypt for treatment.

Persons: Evelyn Hockstein, Hossein Amir, Amir, Abdollahian, Sheikh Mohammed Bin Abdulrahman Al, Ashraf Al, Qidra, Al Shifa, Israel, Nasr, ISRAEL, Joe Biden, John Kirby, Benjamin Netanyahu, Netanyahu, Nidal al, Angel, Emily Rose, Maayan, Rami Amichay, Steve Holland, Matt Spetalnick, Humeyra Pamuk, Cynthia Osterman, Michael Perry, Grant McCool, Simon Cameron, Moore Organizations: Hamas, REUTERS, Iranian, Press, Gaza Ministry, Health, Al, Indonesian, Reuters, Islamic, Rights Watch, Rantisi Pediatric Hospital, Indonesian Hospital, White House, Fox News, Thomson Locations: Gaza, Israel, Palestinian, Iran, GAZA, DUBAI, U.S, Sheikh Mohammed Bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, Iran's, Israeli, Al Jazeera, Gaza City, Al, Lebanese, Indonesia, Egypt, Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Washington

☆ As Gaza Death Toll Rises, Israel Faces Pressure to Protect Palestinian Civilians
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-10 | by ( Nov. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +6 min

By Nidal al-MughrabiGAZA (Reuters) - Israel faced mounting international pressure, including from its main ally the United States, to do more to protect Palestinian civilians in Gaza as the death toll rose and fighting intensified between Israeli forces and Hamas militants near and around hospitals. French President Emmanuel Macron, in a BBC interview published late on Friday, said Israel must stop bombing Gaza and killing civilians. "Israel is now launching a war on Gaza City hospitals," said Mohammad Abu Selmeyah, director of Al Shifa hospital. On Oct. 12, Israel ordered some 1.1 million people in Gaza to move south ahead of its ground invasion. Palestinian officials said on Friday that 11,078 Gaza residents had been killed in air and artillery strikes since Oct. 7.

Persons: Nidal, Antony Blinken, Blinken, Israel, Emmanuel Macron, Benjamin Netanyahu, Netanyahu, Mohammad Abu Selmeyah, Al, Al Shifa, Nasser, Eylon Levy, Ashraf Al, Qidra, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Israel's U.N, Gilad Erdan, Richard Hecht, we'll, Nidal al, Emily Rose, Maayan Lubell, Henriette Chacar, Matt Spetalnick, Grant McCool Organizations: Global, White, Israeli, Indonesian Hospital, Palestinian, Reuters, Health, United Nations Security Council, Israel's, Cross Locations: GAZA, Israel, United States, Gaza, U.S, India, France, Paris , New York, Saudi Arabia, Riyadh, Saudi, Palestinian, Gaza City, Al Shifa, Al, Shifa, Quds, Jerusalem

[1/5] An Israeli soldier operates amid the ongoing ground invasion against Palestinian Islamist group Hamas in the northern Gaza Strip, November 8, 2023. Hamas' armed wing on Wednesday released a video that appeared to show intense street battles alongside bombed out buildings in Gaza City. Israeli tanks have met heavy resistance from Hamas fighters using underground tunnels to stage ambushes, according to sources with Iran-backed Hamas and the separate Islamic Jihad militant group. ISRAEL BOMBS TUNNELSChief Israeli military spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said on Wednesday that "Hamas has lost control in the north" of Gaza. The Israeli military has repeatedly told residents to evacuate the north or risk being trapped in the violence.

Persons: Ronen, Israel, Antony Blinken, Blinken, Benjamin Netanyahu, Khalil al, Saleh al, Daniel Hagari, Colonel Ido, Hagari, U.N, Nidal al, Angel, Emily Rose, Maayan, Rami Amichay, Matt Spetalnick, Humeyra Pamuk, Cynthia Osterman, Michael Perry Organizations: Palestinian, Hamas, REUTERS, West Bank, Jihad, Palestinian Authority, Israel's, ABC News, New York Times, Israel, Reuters, Wednesday, Journalists, 401st Brigade, Thomson Locations: Israeli, Gaza, Gaza City, West, Gaza WASHINGTON, GAZA, JERUSALEM, United States, Hamas, Iran, Israel, Washington, Tokyo, Palestinian, Aqsa, ISRAEL, Gaza's, Qatar, Jerusalem, Tel Aviv

Gaza City, the Hamas militant group's main bastion in the territory, is now surrounded by Israeli forces. The military said troops have advanced to the heart of the city, while Hamas says its fighters have inflicted heavy losses. Air strikes had also killed a Hamas weapons maker, Mahsein Abu Zina, and several fighters, the Israeli military said. The Israeli military had told them they should move south of the Wadi Gaza wetlands along the main Salah al-Din Road. Hamas's armed wing, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, said its fighters had destroyed an Israeli tank in Gaza City.

Persons: General Guterres, Khan Younis, Mohammed Abu Daqa, Daniel Hagari, Mahsein Abu Zina, U.N, General Antonio Guterres, Christian Lindmeier, Mohammed Al, Masri, Rights Israel, Salah, Al Shifa, Israel's, Yahya Sinwar, Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, Nidal al, Angel, Emily Rose, Maayan, Rami Amichay, Matt Spetalnick, Michael Perry, Angus MacSwan, Mark Heinrich, Simon Cameron, Moore, Peter Graff, Alex Richardson Organizations: Jihad, Reuters NEXT, REUTERS, Rights, Hamas, Reuters, ABC, U.S, Thomson Locations: Israel, GAZA, JERUSALEM, Gaza, Palestinian, Iran, Geneva, Beach, Gaza City, Wadi Gaza, al, Washington, Israeli, Jerusalem, Tel Aviv

☆ Israel says it does not intend to 'reoccupy' Gaza or control it for long time
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-08 | by ( Matt Spetalnick | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

WASHINGTON, Nov 8 (Reuters) - Israel does not intend to "reoccupy" Gaza or control it for a long time, a senior Israeli official said in Washington, as Israeli forces pressed their offensive against Hamas militants in the Palestinian coastal enclave. "We assess that our current operations are effective and successful, and we'll continue to push," the Israeli official told reporters late on Tuesday, speaking on condition of anonymity. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told ABC news earlier this week that Israel would seek to have security responsibility for Gaza "for an indefinite period". "It's not Israel's intention to reoccupy Gaza or control it for a long time," the senior Israeli official said, adding that "our operation is not open-ended." "The idea behind Israel going in militarily is to destroy Hamas' ability to threaten us," the official said.

Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel, we'll, Matt Spetalnick, Rosalba O'Brien Organizations: Hamas, Israeli, ABC, U.S, Thomson Locations: Israel, Gaza, Washington, Israeli

Israel has deployed overwhelming aerial firepower since the Oct. 7 attack, which saw Hamas gunmen burst out of the Gaza Strip, killing 1,400 Israelis and taking 239 hostages. Israeli airstrikes hit a crowded refugee camp in the Gaza on Tuesday, killing at least 50 Palestinians and a Hamas commander. In the 2008 Gaza war, Hamas rockets had a maximum range of 40 km (25 miles), but that had risen to 230 km by the 2021 conflict, he added. The plan offers Israel peace treaties with full diplomatic ties in exchange for a sovereign Palestinian state. Muasher, the former Jordanian minister at Carnegie, said Hamas' attack had ended any possibility that Middle Eastern stability could be reached without engaging with Palestinians.

Persons: U.N, Marwan Al, Benjamin Netanyahu, Danny Danon, It's, Ziadeh, they're, Ali Baraka, Baraka, Osama Hamdan, Netanyahu, Jordan, –, Matt Spetalnick, Simon Lewis, Steve Holland, Phil Stewart, James Mackenzie, Samia Nakhoul, Angus McDowall, Pravin Organizations: Reuters, Carnegie Endowment, International Peace, HAMAS, Qatar University, Washington, Hamas, Hezbollah, Palestinian Authority, U.S, Bank, United Arab, Carnegie, Thomson Locations: Gaza, Israel, Qatar, Jerusalem, Washington, Israeli, United States, Hamas, Beirut, Lebanon, Iran, Palestinian, Oslo, Egypt, United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Morocco, U.S, Saudi Arabia, Jordanian

[1/2] Palestinians gather at the site of Israeli strikes on houses in Bureij in the central Gaza Strip,November 2, 2023. The White House said on Wednesday there were "no plans or intentions" to put U.S. troops on the ground in Gaza. As the debate gains momentum, Gaza health authorities say more than 9,000 people have been killed in the 25-mile-long strip of land, home to 2.3 million Palestinians. Any entity that seeks to exert authority in post-war Gaza would also have to contend with the impression among Palestinians that it is beholden to Israel. Israel expects a long war but says it has no interest in re-occupying Gaza.

Persons: Mohammed Fayq Abu Mostafa, Antony Blinken, Mahmoud Abbas, Aaron David Miller, Miller, Jordan, Blinken, We're, Benjamin Netanyahu, Washington’s, Joe Biden, U.N, Antonio Guterres, Dennis Ross, Ross, Israel, Matt Spetalnick, Steve Holland, Humeyra Pamuk, Simon Lewis, Michelle Nichols, Heather Timmons, Grant McCool Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Hamas, United Nations, Palestinian Authority, West Bank, U.S . Middle, U.S, HAITI U.S, Israeli, . Security, Washington Institute for Near East, United Arab, Carnegie Endowment, International Peace, Thomson Locations: Bureij, Gaza, Washington, Palestinian, Israel, U.S, IRAQ, AFGHANISTAN, HAITI, Iraq, Afghanistan, United Nations, Lebanon, Haiti, Kenya, Egypt, Jordan, United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Morocco

CARACAS, Oct 30 (Reuters) - Venezuela's Supreme Justice Tribunal said on Monday it has suspended the results of an opposition presidential primary that took place this month, despite an electoral deal between the government and the opposition that allows each side to choose its candidate. The opposition and the primary's winner Maria Corina Machado have insisted repeatedly the Oct. 22 vote was transparent and fair. Both the investigation and the ruling come at the request of lawmaker Jose Brito, who the court said wanted to participate in the primary. The ruling "temporarily suspends the primary until there is a final decision from the tribunal," said lawyer and university professor Jose Vicente Haro. Some observers said the opposition parties that participated in the primary should simply recognize Machado once again as their unity candidate, making any ruling on the contest moot.

Persons: Nicolas Maduro, Maria Corina Machado, Jose Brito, Brito, Machado, Jose Vicente Haro, Mayela Armas, Vivian Sequera, Matt Spetalnick, Julia Symmes Cobb, Jonathan Oatis, Bill Berkrot Organizations: U.S . State Department, State Department, National, Thomson Locations: CARACAS, United States, Maduro, Barbados, Caracas, Washington

☆ Israel Presses Ground Campaign Against Hamas in 'Second Stage' of Gaza War
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-28 | by ( Oct. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +6 min

By Emily RoseJERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israeli forces waged ground operations against Hamas in Gaza on Sunday in what Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the second phase of a three-week-old war aimed at crushing the Palestinian militant group. "This is the second stage of the war whose goals are clear - to destroy Hamas' governing and military capabilities and to bring the hostages home," Netanyahu told reporters. Israel has tightened its blockade and bombarded Gaza for three weeks since the Islamist group Hamas' devastating Oct. 7 attack. TARGETING MAZE OF HAMAS TUNNELSIsrael sent troops and tanks into Gaza on Friday night, focusing on infrastructure including the extensive tunnel network built by Hamas, the Israeli military said. Qatar-mediated negotiations between Israel and Hamas continued but at a much slower pace than before Friday's escalation in Gaza, a source briefed on the talks said.

Persons: Emily Rose JERUSALEM, Benjamin Netanyahu, Gaza's, Netanyahu, Joe Biden's, Mahmoud Abbas, “, Israel, Antonio Guterres, Elon Musk, Al, Yoav Gallant, James Mackenzie, Nidal, Emily Rose, Riham Alkousaa, Omar Abdel, Razek, Ari Rabinovitch, Adam Makary, Ali Swafta, John Davison, Michelle Nichols, Matt Spetalnick, Cynthia Osterman Organizations: Israeli, Saturday, U.S, Hamas, Palestinian, West Bank, . Security, Billionaire, Brigades Locations: Gaza, Tel Aviv, Israel, Iran, Qatar, Hamas, United States, Europe, East, Asia

☆ Israel presses ground campaign against Hamas in 'second stage' of Gaza war
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-28 | by ( Emily Rose | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

"This is the second stage of the war whose goals are clear - to destroy Hamas' governing and military capabilities and to bring the hostages home," Netanyahu told reporters. Israel has tightened its blockade and bombarded Gaza for three weeks since the Islamist group Hamas' devastating Oct. 7 attack. [1/8]Smoke rises over Gaza, as seen from Israel's border with Gaza, in southern Israel October 28, 2023. TARGETING MAZE OF HAMAS TUNNELSIsrael sent troops and tanks into Gaza on Friday night, focusing on infrastructure including the extensive tunnel network built by Hamas, the Israeli military said. Qatar-mediated negotiations between Israel and Hamas continued but at a much slower pace than before Friday's escalation in Gaza, a source briefed on the talks said.

Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu, Gaza's, Netanyahu, Joe Biden's, Mahmoud Abbas, “, Amir Cohen, Israel, Antonio Guterres, Elon Musk, Al, Yoav Gallant, James Mackenzie, Nidal, Emily Rose, Riham Alkousaa, Omar Abdel, Razek, Ari Rabinovitch, Adam Makary, Ali Swafta, John Davison, Michelle Nichols, Matt Spetalnick, Cynthia Osterman Organizations: Israeli, Saturday, U.S, Hamas, Palestinian, West Bank, REUTERS, . Security, Billionaire, Brigades, Thomson Locations: Gaza, Tel Aviv, Israel, Iran, Qatar, Hamas, United States, Europe, East, Asia

U.S. President Joe Biden has demonstrated unwavering support for Israel's security over a half century in public life. During Blinken's six-day trip, the death toll in Gaza soared from Israeli air strikes and concerns grew about food and water. Every Arab leader Blinken met in the region pressed him to urgently find a solution to the rapidly deteriorating situation in Gaza. HUMANITARIAN PAUSEThe most rapid shift in U.S. policy has happened this week, to support a cessation in Israel's attacks on Gaza to allow aid in and people to escape. But Biden also expressed skepticism toward Palestinian estimates of the death toll and a continued staunch support of Israel.

Persons: Joe Biden, Biden, Benjamin Netanyahu, Evelyn, Aaron David Miller, Barack Obama, Biden’s, Obama, Antony Blinken, Blinken, John Kirby, Kirby, Antonio Guterres, ”, Steve Holland, Phil Stewart, Matt Spetalnick, Humeyra Pamuk, Trevor Hunnicutt, Michelle Nichols, Heather Timmons, Alistair Bell Organizations: Israeli, Hamas, REUTERS, White, U.S, Carnegie Endowment, International Peace, Democratic, Biden's Democratic, Israel, Palestinian, West Bank, Thomson Locations: Israel, Tel Aviv, WASHINGTON, Gaza, Iraq, United States, U.S, U.N

☆ Qatar Hostage Mediators Press Hamas on Civilian Releases -Diplomats, Sources
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-24 | by ( Oct. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +5 min

Hamas on Monday freed two Israeli civilian women captives from the besieged enclave following the release of two hostages with dual U.S.-Israeli nationality on Friday. Qatar is now discussing a larger release of civilians with Hamas and Israel, a fifth source told Reuters on Tuesday after being briefed on the negotiations. The talks are not about any of the Israeli soldiers held by Hamas, the diplomats and regional source familiar with the talks said. Hamas says such captive soldiers are strategic assets the group can eventually exchange for major concessions from Israel. Qatar, which has ambitious foreign policy goals, has a direct line of communication with Hamas and Israel.

Persons: Andrew Mills, Matthew Miller, Washington, Osama Hamdan, Israel, Matt Spetalnick, Humeyra Pamuk, Nidal, James Mackenzie, Edmund Blair, William Maclean, Nick Macfie Organizations: Andrew Mills DOHA, Reuters, quicken, U.S, Hamas, Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs, . State Department, Qatar apprised Locations: Gaza, Israel, Gulf, Palestinian, Qatar, In Washington, U.S, Jerusalem, Washington, Beirut

Hamas on Monday freed two Israeli women among the more than 200 hostages taken during its Oct. 7 assault. "The path is a path of unrelenting attacks, damaging Hamas everywhere and in every way. "We are well prepared for the ground operations in the south," he added, referring to southern Israel, which abuts Gaza. "Any Israeli military strategy that ignores the human costs could ultimately backfire. At least 5,087 Palestinians have been killed in two weeks of strikes, including 2,055 children, the health ministry said.

Persons: Israel, Barack Obama, General Herzi Halevi, Halevi, Joe Biden, OBAMA, ISRAEL, Obama, Biden, Antony Blinken, Gazans, Nidal al, Ari Rabinovitch, Matt Spetalnick, Steve Holland, Rami Ayyub, Humeyra Pamuk, Dan Williams, Emily Rose, Moaz Abd, Arshad Mohammed, Howard Goller, Michael Perry Organizations: U.S, Security Council, Troops, House, Pentagon, State Department, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical, REUTERS, Reuters, Israel, Hamas, Security, United Nations, Thomson Locations: Gaza, GAZA, JERUSALEM, Israel, Palestinian, United States, U.S, retaliating, Ichilov, Tel Aviv, China, Russia, Gaza's Al, Jerusalem, Washington, Cairo

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